A MOTHER fears for the long-term health of her nine-month-old baby because they live in a council flat with damp and mouldy walls.

Gemma Coles, 24, said she had tried for months to get the property in Wains Road, Dringhouses, repaired, but been told the solution was to open the windows and turn up the heating.

City of York Council said the damp was caused by condensation from a tumble dryer and it was hoping to install a new ventilation unit as soon as possible.

Ms Coles said the mould in the family’s bedroom was so bad it could be seen against black wallpaper and half of one wall was damp.

“It’s awful. I am more concerned with having my son in there. Some reports say babies in these conditions are more likely to get asthma when they are a couple of years older.

“With it being so cold you can’t keep the windows open and it’s costing me a fortune in heating.”

She and her partner Carl Huggins, 25, moved into the one-bedroom flat two years ago.

She said it already had damp, but no mould and they were told it was just condensation. But the problem had got worse, she said.

She has regularly taken baby, Charlie, to the doctor with coughs and sneezes she believes are related to his living conditions, though the doctor has not confirmed this.

Steve Waddington, assistant director for housing and public protection, said: “The tenants will be the first to trial a new ventilation unit in the property, which will help to reduce the level of condensation and we are arranging for this to be installed as soon as possible.

“In addition to this, we have also advised the family on how to manage this problem, by wiping the walls and windows, opening windows and maintaining a reasonable level of warmth.”